MR CHAMBERLAIN'S REPLY.
When Mr Chamberlain came forward to speak, the audience again rose and cheered till the roof Tc-eohoed. During the Mayor's spesch Mr Chamberlain had been taking notes, and he now came forward very deliberately, and quietly, without any sign of excitement. The moment lie appeared about to begin, a dead silence reigned through the. length and breadth of the hall. In the course of his speech, uttered 'in a clear, very slow, and distinct voice, the Colonial Sectary said: —" I should be more than human if I were, not touched by the capparent universality and spontaneity of the sentiment which yon have so eloquently expressed. I regard it us an additional .omplimcnt that your welcome corner from the mouth of the "head of the Municipality, because you are quite right in thinking that I still retain my sense of the importance and dignity of municipal life, and of the benefits that may be conferred by it upon these communities in which men live by devoting themselves to the duties which fail upon them, and by the endeavour to make tho lives of the community to which they belong happier, wealthier, and brighter. (Cheers.) lam dependent upon your kindness, your goodwill, and' upon the goodwill of that South Africa which you represent, for any success which may attend aiy mission, and 1 think I may "say, perhaps without overconfidence, that It is ii happy augury that while I left England with the almost univosal goodwill cf my countrymen there*— (loud cheers) —I meet also here on my arrival the expression of universal good wishes for the success of my mission. (Loud cheers.) May I take it that that implies that you understand and that >«.m approve of that mission? It is undertaken with the express assent of his Majesty the King--{eh€ers)— and the goodwill of' all my colleagues. lam coming here in the first instance to express on behalf of the King and the Government and the people of the Motherland, their sympathy with all their kinsmen across the seas^-(cheers) —their desire to understand them better, and their hope for a closer and more personal intercourse. (Loud cheers.) I have a second object, end it is to gain information—to gain information which indeed I can nowhere obtain so successfully, so fully, as 1 can upon ilw spot; to gain information with regard to the manifc.d and complicated problems with which we are faced in .South Africa, -with which we are faced now, and with which we have been faced in tha past, ever since the British flag has waved m thi* country. (Cheers.) These problems are numerous ar.d complicated. . I do not for a, moment mi aim is 2 tba* difficulties in my way, ami above all I would deprecate, any notion that by ths waving of a magician's wand I couiu sutle in fflv sole capacity all the** different questions'. N<». Time is vrar.-ted—the grsat •he»«r of a!i wrongs, thi great remover cf all bitterness*—and patience., a::d. above ail, local goodwill. (AppLaure.) 1 believe thai good-will will be amply accorded me. (Cheers,) I take the sentiment of this great making n& gaHSggißg_3i^ggatig|entg_of_t^
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Press, Volume LX, Issue 11494, 29 January 1903, Page 5
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525MR CHAMBERLAIN'S REPLY. Press, Volume LX, Issue 11494, 29 January 1903, Page 5
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